So what you are saying is that even though the same words and thoughts are used...she did not plagerize?
First of all, there is no evidence that she used the thoughts of others. Secondly, if we look at how other writers of her day and age (not today) and in her genre (not academic) and see how they handled the borrowing of material then we can tell what was called plagiarism back then (virtually verbatim). The _kind_ and amount of legitimate literary borrowing (the critics don't know that there is a difference) we see EGW's writings aren't even close to what would have been called plagiarism.
And your reasons are: 1. She did not have the books in her library? and 2. She also was given the same inspiration as the other writers?
In the chapter I examined for the article I was able to find 3 phrases that were similar to what we can find in books she didn't have in her library--so what does that say about the rest of the examples (9, one of which is a biblical paraphrase)?
On the question of inspiration: have you ever noticed that none of the critics have proved that the other writers weren't inpsired? They simply assume it. I now suspect that we will find out in the hereafter that many people were inspired and possibly most of them without knowing that it was God who inspired them.
My other question would be...Why do we need other thoughts, scenarios and embelishments that are not found in the Bible in the first place? Is not the Bible adequate for our salvation, understanding of God and spiritual growth?
Where the Bible speaks to things that were known in their day and age it is quite complete--that's why Ellen whoite points her readers to it as the sole rule for our faith and practice. But, back then they knew nothing about inappropriate contentography, and today's addictive drugs.
I guess I'm not questioning the plagerization (or lack of) so much as I am questioning the need for any further "light" from any so called "inspired" writers.
I can agree that the extra insight isn't all that helpful to me in my daily life--so when Robert Bird says that Pilate had "short black hair, wearing a white robe, embroided with a broad purple fringe" I really could care less.
To me, God inspired EGW for a reason. That's what we should be looking for.
Since I now know that the critics didn't tell me tghe truth about the plagiarism question I know I won't find "light" by listening to them ab't her inspiration.
BTW, we are told that in the last days there would be visions and dreams--I suspect that the best is yet to come! The question then is will we hear it or will we have closed our eyes and ears?
On a personal note: Thanks Joey for a good conversation!
